Faculty and staff are reminded that the annual Time to Choose benefits open enrollment period begins on Nov. 1 and will end on Nov. 19. As in the past, open enrollment will be done online through the Employee Self-Service Information Center (ESSIC), which can be accessed from the Employee Benefits Web page or directly at https://ohr.psu.edu/essic/
Employees should carefully review their benefit needs for 2005 and make any appropriate changes. Among the issues to be considered are the following:
PENN STATE CHOICE PLAN
Penn State Choice is an enhanced PPO that incorporates the eligible membership of the Healthpass PPO and the HealthAmerica POS plans. Faculty and staff currently enrolled in either of those programs will need to select either the Penn State Choice Plan or the HealthAmerica HMO for 2005. Details of both plans are available from the Employee Benefits Web site at http://ohr.psu.edu/benefits
HMO DRUG COVERAGE
Effective Jan. 1, HMO participants no longer will need to choose between 50/50 drug coverage at the local pharmacy or the MPDP program through the University Health Services Pharmacy. All HMO participants will have 50/50 coverage AND a mail-order prescription service for maintenance drugs. The mail-order service will replace the MPDP program for HMO participants.
DENTAL ENHANCED PLAN
Employees may select the new dental enhanced program, which provides increased maximum annual coverage amounts and includes coverage not available with the dental basic plan. A dental plan open enrollment selection is necessary only for those who are electing the Dental Enhanced plan for 2005.
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS
Health-care reimbursement accounts and dependent-care reimbursement accounts require a new election each year. Anyone wishing to participate in either or both of the plans must make an election during the open enrollment period.
Details for all benefit programs are available from the Employee Benefits Web site. Questions regarding benefits should be directed to the Employee Benefits Division at benefits@psu.edu or by phone at (814) 865-1473.